UCAM HCA Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Spatial and transcriptomic definition of human tissues: Expansion of the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Project (University of Cambridge)
IRAS ID
344398
Contact name
Sarah Teichmann
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 4 months, 28 days
Research summary
This study contributes to the Human Cell Atlas, an international consortium that aims to build a map of the cell types in the human body. This is done primarily by studying the RNA in individual cells; the message that tells us which genes are turned on in that cell type. To achieve this, tissues are dissociated into cells (‘single cell genomics’) or cut into thin slices allowing mapping of RNA molecules and cells in space (‘spatial genomics’). We also study proteins and other molecules inside the cells using a variety of molecular and imaging approaches, to define cell types. The Human Cell Atlas unites biologists, clinicians, technologists, computational scientists, software engineers and mathematicians, leveraging their diverse expertise. The impact of this work is far-reaching; it allows us to better understand how we are built from our cells, how our cells change throughout life and in disease. Understanding what genes are expressed in our cells aids discovery of new medicines and prediction of potential side effects. Understanding how our cells develop helps to produce better models of cells in a dish for scientists to study. It also fuels development of new technology and our lab works at the forefront of this. This study is specifically focused on the contribution of Sarah Teichmann and her group members at the University of Cambridge, to the Human Cell Atlas. We have a particular interest in immunology, but also study the cellular composition of multiple human tissues in health and disease. Samples used for this project will be retrospective (already collected elsewhere) from tissue banks, approved research studies where consent has been given for use of samples in future research, and commercial sources, sampling across the human lifespan from development to ageing.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SW/0137
Date of REC Opinion
29 Nov 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion